lineman

American  

[lahyn-muhn] / ˈlaɪn mən /

noun

• linemen
  plural

1. Also a person who installs or repairs telephone, telegraph, or other wires.

2. Football. one of the players in the line, as a center, guard, tackle, or end.

3. Surveying. a person who marks the positions of a survey mark with a range pole or the like.

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lineman British  

/ ˈlaɪnmən /

noun

1. another name for platelayer

2. a person who does the chaining, taping, or marking of points for a surveyor

3. (formerly) the member of a beach life-saving team who controlled the line used to help drowning swimmers and surfers

4. American football a member of the row of players who start each down positioned on either side of the line of scrimmage

5. another word for linesman

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Gender

See -man.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• underlineman
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• linemen
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lineman

First recorded in 1855–60; line ¹ + -man

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lineman linemen

Gillis is a former offensive lineman from central Pennsylvania who was recruited out of his Catholic high school to play football at West Point—where he immediately realized he didn’t belong and left.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Garrett is a “freak athlete for sure,” lineman Kobie Turner said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026

Researchers at Boston University's CTE Center made the diagnosis through a postmortem brain tissue analysis of the Dallas Cowboys' defensive lineman, who died aged 24.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

Makeo Smith, a 6-4, 265-pound sophomore lineman, figures to receive lots of attention after contributing as a freshman.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026

Puts a spin move on Justyce’s defensive lineman and gets the first down.

From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone

The Royals now had six linemen who stood 6-foot-3 or taller and a dozen assistant coaches.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

The team typically carries five or six defensive linemen, and Barrett joins a group that includes Teair Tart, Jamaree Caldwell and Dalvin Tomlinson.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026

So if the plan works out, the Chargers will start five linemen who weren’t even in uniform for them for the January playoff loss to New England.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026

OK, the Chargers didn’t race to the podium to select offensive linemen — their undoing last season — but they have remade their offensive line anyway.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026

Michael was tough as nails, pushing his way past offensive linemen who sometimes weighed ninety more pounds than he did.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger